on a whim

road trip

2011-07-14T08:48:00.000-07:00

there's more on my flickr. it was an epic journey.

happy weekend!

2011-07-08T06:56:00.000-07:00

i'm still figuring out film processing here so i don't have any texas photos yet, but they're coming. until then i love that this photo looks like a portrait. this was a beautiful sunset. while ive already seen some incredible ones here i do miss the water.

fort worth has changed alot since i've been gone. i can't wait to check out the food truck scene. there's an event this weekend called texas toast that i'm hoping to go too.

we're also going to make dinner with my brother and his fiancee. i've attempted to make popsicles but they won't come out so far so it might just be a snow cone. but i think it will still be tasty.

i'm also working on a new project that i'm excited about so its keeping me busy as well.

what are yall up to this weekend?

happy weekend!

2011-07-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

while i'm no longer by the bay. i'm still a "whimsical girl" so i will still be posting, atleast occasionally, on this blog.

it was a long trip home, i'm processing those pictures now, but it was a really great way to move. it eased us into the heat a bit and gave some time to process and talk and listen to tons of radiolab.

we've rested a bit fortunately and have a full weekend. we are going to a ranger's baseball game, have a big family reunion on my mom's side this weekend, and we're also taking a trip down to austin to hang out with one of my best friends, brit. it's been too long since we got to be together and i'm so glad she'll be close for a bit. even with the heat i'm really enjoying being back in texas.

good bye san francisco

2011-06-21T09:13:00.000-07:00

to ensure that this isn't a weepy, melancholy post i've decided to celebrate my time here with a top ten list of places you should experience when you live or visit here, no particular order:

hayes valley, cutest spot in the heart of the city. delicious food of all types and blue bottle coffee
marin headlands, on the off chance my wedding didn't convince you its an incredible place to ramble and enjoy a break from the city
fillmore street, browser books, bun mee, taco bar and crossroads trading company, bam saturday fun is done
ferry building, i've shared it all, the farmer's market the food stalls, the secret blue bottle coffee cart out front but the secret i've never shared. 3 $ pork buns at out the door, satisfying, cheap, perfectly steamed.
berkeley, this has become a more recent haunt, indian rock, chez panisse, la note, angelina's, local 123 are my favorites, not to mention the best chipotle in the bay area
{atleast most convenient for us}
pescadero and pigeon point lighthouse
ocean beach, sutro heights park and lands end
sightglass cafe
chestnut street, i'm going to miss marina meats and grocery, delarosa, marina lounge, the movie theaters, plutos, marina deli, kara's cupcakes and all only a 10 minute walk from my house, can you tell i'm a bit spoiled?
crissy field and palace of fine arts- say hi to the swans.

i hate good byes so i'm just going to say see you later. thanks for all you've given me.

happy weekend!

2011-06-18T15:11:00.002-07:00

packing, packing, packing is all we've been doing lately besides errands and saying goodbye so it hasn't been the best week. but we can't wait to start our road trip and get started in our new/old home of fort worth. i haven't really talked about the trip because its seemed so far away and not real. but here it is, starting next week we'll head north to portland and then southeast to home, hopefully hitting up the grand canyon on the way. we are so excited but also haven't researched much in the way of sightseeing as we've been overwhelmed about packing it all up, have i mentioned that yet? i hate packing, and getting there, seeing that we have a slightly unreliable volkswagen van.
but that's where you come in, i'd love to hear any ideas for great stops along the way, in portland as well as nevada, utah, new mexico, west texas. we have a long way to go but we don't want to miss anything so hook us up. we'd also love to hear your favorite road trip survival tips. in exchange i'm going to post a top ten list for san francisco next week!

ashram

2011-06-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

we visited an ashram last week with a friend from jacob's work. it was in castro valley, which is an incredibly beautiful area with rolling hills and huge skies. i enjoyed the time to think and contemplate, especially as we walked the labyrinth. Amma was the holy lady who visited the area and brought followers from all over the state and beyond. we enjoyed the break from our normal lives and seeing a different facet of california life.

cafe love: nash baker

2011-06-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

no this is not a cafe but one of my favorite things to enjoy at a cafe. these pastries, and many more, are served at readers cafe and at the summit. i did not previously think much of croissants. i didn't really understand the fuss, except that they sounded french. i'd tried the pastry before but did not really understand the allure until trying nash baker's. with a gibralter it is perfection, the sweet milk and espresso mixing with the crunchy flakiness of the bread to form the perfect start to a day. i've had customers come in and compare these treats to the likes of Tartine, the standard itself here in San Francisco. i think you'll agree that they're the best and feel that this is one more reason to come by in my last week at reader's cafe.

happy weekend!

2011-06-10T08:00:00.000-07:00

packing and preparations filled this week, but we did take a break to eat at Roam. this is the best burger i've ever had (and i've had a lot of burgers). it had an egg on it with a slightly spicy chili sauce. yum. when you add a blue bottle coffee shake, zucchini fries and a ginger lime soda i was in heaven. i highly suggest you eat there this weekend.

i also made these delicious enchiladas. yum. if you crave tex mex and don't have access or have ever wondered exactly what tex mex means. make these, now. they are amazing and encapsulate the flavorful spiciness of the cuisine i love.

i can't wait to make have dinner with some good friends, work a bit and enjoy a cookout. summer is underway. even if that does mean fog, i'll enjoy it while i can. what are your weekend plans?

transitions

2011-06-08T08:00:00.000-07:00

i feel that moving has made me very aware of my surroundings. i love the neighborhood i live in. all the individual houses and colorful buildings and interesting doors. all framed by the backdrop of the bay and the golden gate bridge. i am soaking it all up to take with me when we go back home. i think i'll remember the smells the most. as you can see from this door there is an abundance of flowers; roses, snap dragons, flowers whose names i don't know and my favorite jasmine. the blooms fill the even the air with beauty.

cafe love: blue bottle

2011-06-06T08:00:00.000-07:00

while i've already shared these photos here, it was not part of my cafe love series and i wanted to share them again. because i like them that much. its true. i also love blue bottle that much. they are the first third wave cafe that i experienced and hold the standard for delicious coffee, attention to coffee farmers and coolness. {vien, my blue bottle trainer, travelled to japan to learn how to brew siphon pot coffee, that says it all}

we sell their coffee at readers cafe, where i work, and constantly get great feedback. i also loved their training. i've gotten very consistent with latte art.

they have cafes at many locations in the bay area and brooklyn with rumors of a larger expansion. fingers crossed that they'll stay true to their quality and standards.

happy weekend!

2011-06-03T08:00:00.000-07:00

i think this movie will make your weekend, entirely. yes its that good. jacob now wants to live in paris, i already wanted to so no big news for me that its now on our list.

i'm also excited about preparing for a couple of photography shows this month. i sold my first photo this week and i'm working on getting some more prints prepared and framed. i can't wait to see how it goes, but i'm {trying} not to count my chickens before they hatch.

i read a great book this week, called motion of the ocean. its about a couple who get married and sail around the pacific. but its also about the ups and downs a couple goes through in love and marriage. its beautiful and funny. i love reflecting on and seeing how other people experience transitions. i don't feel i handle them well at all so its nice to get tips and know i'm not alone in my {over} emotions.

i hope you enjoy the beginning of summer. i can't wait for months of tomatoes and sunshine!

french toast

2011-06-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

we've been messing around with french toast for a while but last week jacob perfected the creme brulee crust from melissa clark's recipe so i wanted to share the picture and the recipe here.

1 cup packed light brown sugar

8 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and still warm

2 large eggs, well beaten

1 1/2 cups milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1 (10 oz) sourdough bread, sliced thinly

1. preheat the oven to 375 '. in a medium bowl, whisk together the brown sugar and butter until the sugar is completely dissolved ( i didn't combine them enough but jacob took it all the way and that's what made it truly delicious) Pour the mixture into a large rimmed baking sheet (about 11x17 inches)

2. in a pie pan or other shallow dish, combine the eggs, milk, vanilla, cinnamon and salt. coat both sides of the bread slices in the egg mixture, letting the bread soak up the custard for atleast 15 minutes, then place them on the prepared baking sheet over the brown sugar mixture. bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the tops of the bread are golden brown and the sugar is bubbling.

3. serve immediately while still hot, with the crunchy brown sugar side up, spooning more of the pan syrup over the tops.

it was delicious, especially with bacon.

chez panisse anniversary

2011-05-31T08:00:00.000-07:00

i love how the light in my photos inside chez panisse is incredibly different from outside. they capture how i felt, all glowy and delicious and in a different world. it was wonderful to talk and eavesdrop and taste so many different and delightful flavors. we made a mission statement for this year and reminisced about the incredible nature of this last one. its been wonderful and i can't wait to see what we experience in year two.

cafe love: sightglass

2011-05-30T08:00:00.000-07:00

i promised you in this post that i would visit sightglass for this series so when jacob and i were in the neighborhood last week we made sure to stop by. its still a new cafe, they are creating the large espresso bar in the back, which means that the entryway is where you sit, order coffee and chat with the baristas. this open area is a beautiful combination of cement and wood panelling. i can't wait till they reveal the full space, which should occur sometime in june. the coffee leaves nothing to be desired though. i've tried the chemex here in the past but jacob and i went for the v-60 pour over this time. we tried the Genesis and the Berlin. they were both crisp, and full bodied. yet i loved the Genesis. it was a darker roast and had a syurpy texture with peach notes that resonated throughout my mouth. as we sat and sipped we asked the barista about their espresso. its a blend from all over the world whose different flavor parts make it sing. we also discussed the differences in cost of those beans from last year to this. its increased dramatically, many of the beans doubling in price. i've known that prices have risen due to weather and increased demand but it was interesting to see how it directly affects this cafe. no wonder cafe prices have risen lately, something to keep in mind when you visit a cafe. the passion of sightglass is obvious and they will continue to purchase and eat most of the costs of that bean because its the best. and that's what makes sightglass and other third wave coffee houses great is that passion for coffee, coffee farmers and consumers comes first.

happy weekend!

2011-05-27T08:00:00.000-07:00

this past week we celebrated our 1st anniversary, i'll be sharing pictures of chez panisse and us in our fancy get up next week, but i wanted to share my second favorite photo from the yashica roll this weekend. the golden gate bridge is always photogenic but i love how its set between the blue sky and turquoise water.

you must check out the blue hour, brian has just returned from italy and the photos are moving, delicious and beautiful.

we're working hard this weekend but i plan on resting on memorial day. that will probably entail curling up with a good book. i've been lax on sharing my favorite books so try and i'll catch up now: i've enjoyed MFK Fisher's serve it forth, elizabeth gilberts stern men, isabelle allende's daughter of fortune, and my most recent favorite the particular sadness of lemon cake. an exploration of the connection of taste to emotion and a girl's journey to adulthood.

i also hope to see bridesmaids. it looks hilarious!

i have some extra strawberries here so i'm going to try this recipe but i've also seen alot of rhubarb cake recipes lately and might branch out in that direction next.

jacob's been working on his new album lately and has posted a demo. this one delves into the themes of journeying on the high seas. listen and share it with your friends!

yashica revealed

2011-05-25T08:00:00.000-07:00

i love the vastness of this photo. its my favorite on my first yashica roll. it makes me feel both like setting off for the hills and lying in the grass. thanks harpers for stopping for your crazy picture friends.

cafe love: home

2011-05-23T08:00:00.000-07:00

so there are many things to love about brewing coffee at home. you can make it many different ways and to your own perfect taste. and its only a few feet from your bed, the best place to drink coffee. it can be confusing though and it can seem like you need alot of gadgets. but this is not true. there are many options for home brewing and many price ranges. as well as as things that are essential and non essential. i have french pressed coffee for the past few years, and love the rich, oily flavor. but since working at readers cafe i have learned more about the clean, crisp taste of pour overs. a standard grocery cone is about 5 dollars and with a regular kettle a good cup of coffee can be enjoyed. most recently though jacob bought me a chemex and i can't get enough. its sweet, complex flavor has been a wonderful breakfast staple and we are both enjoying mastering the technique. the best way, i've found to learn about new methods and gain skills, outside of becoming a barista is the brew methods website. many roasters have instructions on their websites but this puts them all in one place, and has every method under the sun. how do you like your coffee?

happy weekend!

2011-05-20T08:00:00.000-07:00

i am looking forward to this weekend. golden gate seminary's graduation is tonight and i feel like a lot of people are transitioning like us, which makes me feel better. i also can't wait to celebrate my friends' graduate school successes. jacob and i are hoping to hit up sol food as well while we're there.

Also this weekend, i'm preparing to put some photographs up at jacob's starbucks. i'm a bit nervous about curating, printing and framing them, as well as how people will respond. if at all. but i think its a step that moves me closer to feeling like a photographer. another way i'm trying to stay on top of that aspect is updating my flickr.

in the coffee realm,

stuff like this, excites me about moving back to texas.

this recipe was as delicious as i hoped, i'm planning to spend some time in the kitchen with my heart of the artichoke birthday present. i hope your weekend is full of things and people you love.

birthday love

2011-05-17T11:00:00.000-07:00

i heard from so many wonderful friends and family. jacob took me around the city, bought me an awesome medium format camera, the yashicha {pictures pending}, we ate bun mee in the park, watched the sunset together and dropped by delarosa.

i can't wait to see what 25 brings.

cafe love: four barrel

2011-05-16T08:00:00.000-07:00

four barrel is a brilliant cafe for many reasons. they offer options and simplicity. not an easy balance. in the world of specialty coffee one of the hardest steps is conveying your product to the consumer. explaining why your coffee is more expensive than starbucks, why there are contraptions everywhere and what to order based on the customers taste without being snobby is not an easy mission. but with four barrels well designed cafe you can choose either simplicity and speed with a french press basic coffee or other espresso drinks. Or for those with curious taste buds you can also try one of six pour overs or single origin espressos. the slow bar barista is also excellent at explaining the brewing process and the taste sensations it will produce while preparing your cup. customers are treated to vinyl records while watching the roaster expertly perform his duties on the german probat behind the bar.

the barista at the slow bar called us over and i could not resist the ethiopia leka wato. as i sipped, cherries and lemon zest flitted over my tongue. we took our place at the bar enjoyed the creative atmosphere created by the masters at four barrel.

birthday question

2011-05-14T14:38:00.000-07:00

thanks for your response to my birthday question. unfortunately blogger was down most of my birthday and the comments that i saw on wednesday were lost, i'm betting, naively maybe, this is why there are not more responses. but if you commented and its no longer showing up or forgot and want to answer now, you still can. the question for you to answer is where were you at 25? i've gotten some interesting and fun answers so far and can't wait to hear yours.

now for my question: what has it taken me 25 years to learn?

This year has shown me that there is value in slowing down and not always striving for the next thing. i've enjoyed reading and exploring and working without a definite end or goal in mind. prioritizing what i enjoy is acceptable and even valuable at times. in the coming year i have some goals that i would like to attain. {more on that later} but feel that i will be more able, informed and competent because of this year's experiences.

i look forward to hearing from you!

birthday

2011-05-11T15:34:00.000-07:00

i love the month of may for many reasons. not least of which is my birthday. i love birthdays. but i have a lot of mixed feelings about this one. i've thought about turning 25 alot while i was growing up. i always planned out my future until 25. high school, college, adventure and then 25 and uncertainty. what if i hadn't gotten married, how would i feel? (yes, i did just let you in on that) i didn't know what it would like for those five years till i got old and mature at 30, this is my 13 year old mind working here, but still i think these projections have shaped how i feel about 25. that i better start getting started on the rest of my life, that i better have purpose now, that i can't just have fun forever. are these assumptions true? i do hope that 25 finds purpose but i really hope that i drink lots of good coffee, listen to lots of wonderful music and eat many more amazing meals with the people i love. here's to 25!

i also have a couple of questions from my friends emily and sarah. one for me and one for you:

what has it taken me 25 years to learn?

(i answered this last year here)

and

where were you at 25?

i'd love to hear your answers, think of it as a birthday gift.

cafe love: ritual coffee roasters

2011-05-10T10:00:00.000-07:00

i heard about ritual when i first moved to san francisco. it was the cool place to be. there were only a couple of other third wave cafes at the time and ritual was the first. i met the owner a couple of months ago at the cupping they offer every friday at 2. eileen was sweet but you could tell she was tough. she opened ritual when everyone said that it was no place for a cafe. that there was no money in the mission. those people missed the boat. eileen wanted to be where the next literary movement was and thought with 826 down the street, this was quite possibly the place. i love her vision. its not just about the best coffee but the community that the best coffee provides. i enjoyed a latte, made with the sweet tooth espresso, when my dad visited last week and was impressed as always by everything ritual offers.

dads' visit

2011-05-07T20:39:00.000-07:00

we had a wonderful time with our dads' this weekend. i love traipsing around the city with mine. i'll be upfront here. we eat alot, but we also have alot of adventures, take a lot of pictures and overall enjoy ourselves. these are my favorites from my dad's camera.

sutro heights

dolores park, bi-rite sandwiches and ice cream

buena vista breakfast, my dad and i first enjoyed this meal when my parents drove up the coast with me as a baby, and they wonder why i had to come back.

pigeon point lighthouse

skipping stones, mr furr won but i am pretty sure a couple of my stones skipped twice, atleast

focaccia bread from the best place ever

hat shopping at Goorin bros, its over 100 years old

steak dinner together

bun mee sandwiches and carmelized citrus rice bowl

moishe's pippies chicago, jewish deli

smitten's ice cream, made in small batches to order, as well as home made cones,

le mediterrenne, my dad's favorite!

final burgers at whiz burgers. i'm so glad they came to visit, love yall!

happy weekend!

2011-05-06T10:00:00.000-07:00

i know this weekend will require some recuperation after such a big week with our dads but I already have some plans in the works. we're going to have to go back to bun mee, where i had the most amazing carmelized citrus rice bowl with jacob and my dad. i'm also going to continue to perfect this strawberry shortcake recipe with my favorite berry ever. i'm excited about hearing the MAIS capstones this saturday. i remember being super nervous and excited last year for my own and i can't wait to hear the culmination of their work. i hope this spring weather continues to stick around.

finches: behind the scenes

2011-05-05T13:00:00.000-07:00

when jacob asked me to help him work on his album cover i was really nervous. i thought about using a photo but none fit perfectly. he kept saying he wanted a collage but i was imagining cheesy photos of gregory peck and couldn't feel good about a direction. its like he's said many times that you can't force creativity but i was definitely trying.

until we were at readers' cafe, surrounded by old books and we mentioned maybe using one for the album cover. i began to search for the perfect thing with a few images of book art i've admired drifting through my head. i stumbled across a beautiful book flap in a work by George Elliot. From there,i was cutting out letters and bits of text. and its been very meaningful to produce something with jacob and about something that i think is beautiful. show your support by downloading and liking it here!

cheese

2011-05-04T23:11:00.000-07:00

cowgirl creamery is our favorite place to get cheese. we love picking out a new one to try when we go to the ferry building.

cafe love: contraband

2011-05-02T10:00:00.000-07:00

i heard about contraband through a friend a couple of weeks ago but when he mentioned it again and said that they had the kone i booked it there this week. located in nob hill at 1415 Larkin St, it wasn't where i envisioned quality coffee but i was in for a treat.

contraband offers multiple single origins brewed in chemex and pour over as well as a choice of espresso. they roast their own coffee in oakland and they had the most interesting espresso grinder i've ever seen. it allows multiple different espressos, they have three, to feed into its chamber. the disk that spins to start the grinder in motion is captivating to watch. i tried the peaberry in the chemex kone at the barista's suggestion because she said it was sweet. that was very true, it was juicy with a ripe cherry flavor. it was bold but well balanced. i really love the body that the kone offers, its right between a french press and the paper filter pour over. very smooth but still crisp. i read, while many seemingly neighborhood patrons came in and out, studied and chatted. it has a really sunny, community vibe that i soaked up.

i sipped a gibralter, my signature drink, before leaving and was surprised by the earthy, bright taste of the ethiopian yirgacheffe espresso. it was distinct and unique, almost a little too sharp for me but sweetened by the milk it was the perfect stimulus for my walk back down polk where i meandered amongst the shops and sunlight.

happy weekend!

2011-04-29T10:01:00.001-07:00

Our dads are coming in town, well technically jacob's is already here and mine comes tomorrow, and we're going to paint the town. i can't wait to explore the sutro heights area with mine and do some shopping. its been a great week for risotto (i'll admit i added bacon to this recipe though), i've really enjoyed figuring out mypintrest, i've had some good chats with friends and my cold is limited to a few random coughs here and there. with this as mysoundtrack, i'm all set for an adventure filled weekend!

coterie

2011-04-28T11:45:00.000-07:00

i have mentioned my love for the blog ill seen, ill said before but i can't say it enough. i've followed her for three years and still eagerly await her posts. she's fanciful and fun but serious and contemplative. now to top it all off she's opened an online store, coterie. the items are curated by her alone, and reflect her impeccable taste and standards, most of the items are sourced from her homeland of ireland. I almost didn't share this because the items are rare and unique. so you guys might buy them up before me. but i can't resist. somethings are just too good to keep to yourself and this is one of them.

most of you know my affinity for notebooks and this is my new favorite. i love that it looks like a novel but opens flat and is unlined. i can only imagine the doodles and daydreams and plans that would spill from its pages. my birthday is coming up, hint hint.

finches

2011-04-26T09:54:00.000-07:00

i've really enjoyed seeing this album evolve. jacob used the book to kill a mockingbird, his favorite, as inspiration. i think you'll enjoy it as well. download it here!

cafe love

2011-04-25T20:22:00.000-07:00

i've decided to incorporate more of my love for coffee into this blog. i've been thinking it for awhile and really appreciated yall's response to my post about coffee blogs. i'm putting this out here now because i was reminded of my love for visiting cafe's and exploring new coffees on Sunday and want to hold myself accountable to get out there more, especially when i have so many amazing options around me and write about my experiences for you, atleast once a week. so there's the new idea, here's what it will {potentially} look like:

It starts a bit farther back than sunday though. i have been checking out coffee blogs more lately and found the cafe, coava, in portland. its pitch perfect. they take meticulous care in sourcing, roasting and preparing their coffee beans. they also created the coffee kone. this is the state of the art equipment when it comes to coffee. it eliminates paper filter waste and allows the most and best flavor to be extracted from the coffee, according to them. i couldn't wait to experience this cafe, but figured i'd have to wait till we went to portland this summer. until, we came across Local 123, a coffee bar in berkeley.

they sell coava coffee*, which they prepare using the kone!

i spoke with the barista as he prepared my ethiopian coffee and he divulged their process and the difficulties involved with the kone. well worth it, i assure you though. because the flavors and complexity and richness were brilliant. even with my cold i could tell it was a step above other coffees i've had.

the mocha emily got was delicious and beautiful as well. we sat on their back patio and enjoyed the live music and conversation. it was a wonderful surprise to happen upon in the bay area.

*they also brew sightglass which is a local roaster. i'll stop by their cafe sometime in may

weekend plans

2011-04-22T10:01:00.000-07:00

well i've been a bit under the weather this week (i did manage to make this recipe which i think you should try) but i can't wait to enjoy the weekend. stuffy nose and all. i plan to do some cooking, including my grandmother's coffee cake, which i haven't tried before, i'll keep you updated. we're also going to see water for elephants, i read the book awhile back and the movie looks beautiful. with it being easter sunday its going to be a full three days but i plan on sneaking a nap in somewhere. happy weekend!

photo by jacob

hopefully we'll find time to snap some pictures together as well, he took some great ones this week.

lands end photography walk

2011-04-19T12:20:00.000-07:00

when jacob's family visited we toured the lands end area of san francisco. its foggy and craggy and very windswept. i saw a sign about a photography walk so i called and signed up that day, even though i had no idea what it was. they emailed me a couple of weeks ago and i was still free to go even though i'd forgotten about the whole thing. it was my own surprise adventure. so on saturday i rode the bus all the way out to the coast.

the fog was rolling in as i met up with the group that was small but varied. a father daughter pair made me a bit lonely, my dad and i would have loved doing this together, a lot of older people with very complicated equipment and tripods, a younger couple which made me miss jacob, we would have laughed at her silky flats and over styled appearance and debated which date they were on and if she was still trying to impress him.

we then gathered around the resident park photographers who seemed like they were more comfortable behind the camera than talking to a group. they warmed up though and as we walked down to sutro baths the sun did as well. it began to pierce through the fog and i was reminded yet again that you just never know around here. we discussed framing and looking intentionally all around you instead of just pointing your camera at the ocean.

the most helpful though, was the father from the father/daughter pair. he was intrigued by my film camera and we talked about the differences and how he'd loved his old pentax. he said he loved how unique film cameras are and how you can play with exposure very easily. i'd had trouble with exposure because i did not think i had a light meter. he helped me find it and now i'm truly in business. it was very illuminating. it was a wonderful evening of intentionally seeing and being a part of the ocean and cliffs and the waves. hopefully i captured a bit of that in these photos.

out and about

2011-04-18T23:10:00.000-07:00

we enjoyed a beautiful sunset, some more spring flowers and ate macaroni and cheese with onion rings on top with this amazing pair. it was a perfect spring weekend in the city.

happy weekend!

2011-04-15T10:01:00.000-07:00

check out this french onion soup if your weather is anything like ours, you never know here in norcal. i think we're going to get some comfort food at Citizens Band. and most exciting, i signed up for a photography class at lands end on Saturday, fingers crossed for a clear sunset!

coffee

2011-04-13T10:06:00.000-07:00

blogs. pretty much the best combination ever. here's a couple of links that will tell you everything you need to know about the changes that are occurring in the coffee industry.

dear coffee, i love you

{they have even more links on their site}

i love coffee

and incredibly enough at the last TED conference there was a coffee common. A grouping of the best baristas around the world brewing the best and most interesting coffees and brainstorming how to make the coffee industry better and improve what they do in their shops. i can't wait to see how it develops. TED only gets better and better. you should check it out if you do nothing else.

adventures in normalacy

2011-04-12T09:58:00.000-07:00

i wanted to share these photos from our week here in the city by the bay. we hit up the farmer's market, hence my obsession with spring recipes, hung out on haight street and picked up some amazing records as well as puerto rican food, and enjoyed a delicious homemade (jacob made) brunch. i love enjoying where we are and spontaneous adventure.

notes

2011-04-11T15:43:00.000-07:00

i love this piano photo. my grandfather tunes pianos and i attempted to play them growing up. seeing the inside revealed a new and beautiful facet of its mystery.

asparagus

2011-04-06T22:55:00.000-07:00

via today's letters

i love this blog. her way of expressing love in her marriage and out is wonderful and realistic and funny. as if this wasn't enough it provided me with this amazing recipe for asparagus. browned butter and balsamic vinegar, how could i go wrong. i also used less asparagus and put it on top of rice with a fried egg and the sauce reacted really well with the other items and was so flavorful but not over powering of the vegetable itself. i've been a bit disappointed with spring's offerings so far but now have renewed hope in trying to eat seasonally.

fog

2011-04-06T15:32:00.000-07:00

while this is not what san francisco looks like right now (the sun is having its hey day) , i wanted to share the beauty of this city in the fog. nothing new but i can't get enough. i love the lights and the reflections as we come over the bay bridge.

the elegance of the hedgehog

2011-04-04T14:56:00.000-07:00

this book thrilled my heart. its set in a wealthy neighborhood in paris, and addresses social class, facades, poverty and the power of community. the story and characters are beautiful, redemptive, sweet, sarcastic, sad, intelligent and they all came together to form an engaging story that has made me think, alot. about life and art and why i live and how.

*this is the french cover which i've chosen because i was telling jacob that i didn't like the engligh cover and that i thought it should be a painting of a camellia (read the book to find out why) and when i googled the book this edition came up. maybe my calling is actually book art. hmmm.....

happy weekend!

2011-04-01T11:24:00.000-07:00

the sky is blue, the weather is warm and it feels like summer. i could not be happier. we might check out off the grid at fort mason tonight or pluto's on chestnut, but whatever we do its going to involve a bike ride.

Chorizo, Red Pepper and Potato Gallette with Argula

2011-03-31T12:09:00.000-07:00

Well that title is a mouthful, but i guess it fits the dish itself which is ridiculously filling and delicious. it all started when i got my new sunset magazine and i was pleasantly surprised by their savory pie section. I love savory pies. i made a butternut squash one in the fall and was very happy with the results. so this one, (though it doesn't seem in line with a seasonal theme, i probably would rather have had it in the fall,) is even better. when i saw that it had chorizo, one of jacob's favorites, i knew it must be made. so i used the smitten kitchen pie crust recipe. and my new pie crust cutter upper, made it so much easier, i love tools. and got to work.

unfortunately this is probably not a dish that promotes my ideology that cooking at home is cheaper or healthier. chorizo and manchego cheese are pricey people, but for a weekend splurge or week day pick me up its perfect, i just wanted you to know what you were getting into.

i would normally just link you to the recipe online but was shocked to find that they did not have the pie section of the magazine on the internet, its like they want you to buy their paper copy or something. so here it is, your welcome.

13 inch round pie crust( see link above or they suggest pillsbury refrigerated pie dough)

1/3 lb or manchego or other basque-style sheep's-milk cheese, thinly sliced

3 ounces spanish style chorizo, thinly sliced

1/2 lb cooked and thinly sliced yukon gold potatoes

1/2 cup thinly sliced roasted red bell peppers patted dry

2 cups baby lettuce

(your favorite salad vinegar, i used white balsamic, they suggested sherry vinegar, and oil)

Roll out pie crust, leaving a 2inch border.

layer the filling ingredients. i did 1/2 of the potatoes, then cheese, then chorizo, then more potatoes, so that the cheese melted down and through everything.

fold the dough around the filling, then bake until crust is golden 20-25 minutes.

toss the lettuce with vinegar and oil, you can place it on top for a nice contrast, but i just served mine on the side.

there are no pictures due to poor lighting and hunger, but if you are confused about the folding issue here's a pic of the butternut squash gallete i mentioned earlier. its very rustic looking. nothing too complicated i promise.

also this says it serves four to six, they must not have meant people with any appetite or tastebuds or are assuming its all dieters because i made us stop eating it 2/3rds of the way through due to the afore mentioned health issues, cheese/chorizo/ and pie crust need i say more? but we could have easily finished it just the two of us.

i would bring this to a potluck dinner or serve it with a larger salad next time.

enjoy!

snow

2011-03-29T15:29:00.000-07:00

i loved our silent snowy walk by donner lake in tahoe this weekend. snow is one of the best atmospheres for thinking.

farm city

2011-03-28T22:01:00.000-07:00

Jacob and i want goats and a garden and while we recently read that this was possible in urban areas we didn't really think it happened. until we read farm city. novella writes about her experiences as an urban farmer in oakland. she is very open about her struggles in an excellent show of humor. there are many highs and lows, even the title of urban farmer took her awhile to grow into but i think she earned it as she raised many types of fowl, rabbits, and heirloom vegetables while struggling with ethical and urban problems. she shares many tales of her delicious meals as well as the work it took to get them to her table. i was impressed and challenged while laughing my head off. thanks novella.

change

2011-03-22T15:35:00.000-07:00

spring is a season of change, and i feel that jacob and i are swept up in that feeling right now. the feeling that things aren't the same and won't be same and that life is always shifting. we have a lot of ideas and options and some might say talents(ahem, jacobs music...)

we've been reading lots of books about farming and we've done a lot of cooking and wandering and picture taking.

its been a good time but i think i'm feeling confused because i thought that if we took this year and explored options and attempted new things that when the time came we'd have an answer, a direction. and while we still have time for that to fall from the sky it's looking like that's not going to be the case. that we're once again going to have to make a choice based not on certainty but on chance. that we're going to risk again and hope that the things that are most important fall into place. but knowing us and knowing me, we're not going to be staying where we are, though its good and i'll miss it. and we probably won't choose a place that makes everyone happy or that makes us not miss any of our other options. we're definitely going to gain certain things but we'll lose certain thing as well. and that's the rub.

it will mean that we are following a path and a goal that is important to us and not muddling around wishing we could have it all. because you can't and you won't and you definitely won't be happy if you try to have it all. i think that we will find something good though and i can't wait to see how our life develops.

flickr

2011-03-20T22:33:00.001-07:00

i just started my account, click on the photo to go to the site. i hope to be able to share the photos that don't fit on my blog. enjoy!

furr family fun

2011-03-19T17:20:00.000-07:00

it was wonderful to have the furr family here. we had a blast hanging out and exploring the city. they are so precious and sweet to have in our lives and especially in our city. with jacob's birthday and concert it was a pretty eventful week.

my favorite, wind blown trees in point reyes

the buddha in the japanese tea garden

queen wilhemina's windmill in golden gate park

a bridge in the japanese tea garden

we're so glad they could visit!

the furrs

2011-03-17T09:14:00.000-07:00

i love this photo and this guy, more furr family visit photos to follow.

blooms

2011-03-15T12:14:00.001-07:00

the flowers are showing up for spring. i'm still in love with ranunculus and so i filled up my outdoor flower box with them. hopefully i'll be able to keep them around for a while. spring makes me want to exercise my green thumb.

rambling

2011-03-14T22:59:00.000-07:00

i love wandering through the city and so instead of riding back with jacob (he had to get back to work) i walked back through north beach and down lombard. i used to walk through the neighborhood often and it was nice to visit the old haunts. i checked out al's tailor shop, which had expanded to a new bigger shop down the street and discovered the hat shop that i'm going to take jacob back too. i love seeing the world on foot.

north beach

2011-03-12T23:44:00.000-08:00

north beach has always been one of my favorite neighborhoods and on tuesday jacob and i played hooky on the grocery store and set out to explore. Behind Coit tower are the filbert steps. the gardens and homes are beautiful, and feel very secluded from the rest of the city. we ate foccacia bread that we grabbed from a 100 year old foccacia shop, complete with a stereotypical italian family who wrapped up our onion bread in paper and twine. it was wonderful to have a mini vacation from our responsibilities in our own city.

bazaar cafe

2011-03-09T20:59:00.000-08:00

jacob played at the open mic last week and i practiced taking photos for his concert on Monday, the 14th from 7-9pm. its a very interesting space with artwork from around the city and is very welcoming to live music. it was fun to mess with the light and exposure. i can't wait for the real deal. i hope to see yall there!

notes

2011-03-09T15:33:00.000-08:00

"Don't let Ginger out. thanks~ Fred"

i thought this was pretty cute, assuming that Ginger is a cat of course.

photo adventure

2011-03-08T11:47:00.000-08:00

as i've been learning more about the camera jacob and i have been intentionally going on photo adventures. its been a really fun way to enjoy the city and i'm pretty happy with these results.

delarosa

2011-03-06T23:32:00.000-08:00

i love the lighting in delarosa. its beautiful and relaxing and a bit of a throwback with their lightbulbs. i enjoyed trying to capture it on film.

burger time

2011-03-06T21:01:00.000-08:00

a burger was the perfect thing this weekend. i love living close enough to walk to dates.

new and old

2011-03-05T00:01:00.000-08:00

a new shot on the muni and a familiar place in a different light. happy weekend!

the office

2011-03-02T12:30:00.000-08:00

this is a behind the scenes look at jacob's recording studio*

he's been in here alot lately working on a new ep that he's going to debut at his concert, March 14th at bazaar cafe.

*(sometimes my film pictures won't rotate, if anyone has any clues about this i would appreciate it)

"photography is easy, photography is difficult"

2011-03-01T10:55:00.000-08:00

this essay is a beautiful description of the questions and conondrums, that i think face many artists, but especially photographers. i like being a part of these questions and answers. i was asked the other night if i thought of myself as a photographer, i don't, but what if i did and why don't i? just some thoughts to ponder

i love alabama

2011-02-28T12:40:00.000-08:00

its been hitting me lately, the desire to see red mountain, let my southern drawl out a bit and of course see my lovely birmingham friends. while i can't jump on a plane sadly, i hunted down some alabamian barbq. to do this we headed to oakland and everett & jones. the founder moved here from alabama in the 70s and realized if she was going to eat well she'd have to make it herself. i'm sure glad she did. the sauce was what was truly amazing followed by the tender meat and incredible baked beans. it was a wonderful afternoon, only made perfect if i'd really been in birmingham.

book list

2011-02-27T23:54:00.000-08:00

tender to the bone- Ruth Reichl

this work details her life with her parents and her development as a cook and food lover. its a beautiful story of her finding courage and hope and her hilarious missteps along the way.

room with a view- e.m. forster

a telling work about a young woman falling in love and the mental struggles between what she wants and what is expected. its very similar to jane austen but with more inner dialogue. i really love her word play and descriptions. i haven't finished it yet but i'm really enjoying it so far.

the amazing adventures of kavalier and clay- micheal chabon

this one took me a while. its very long and detailed with many different stories and characters running through it. chabon ties it together beautifully with a strong trio of characters who you care about very strongly as they make their way through many struggles including pogroms, new york in the 30s, WWII, and the complacency of the 50s. they write and create beautiful comic books throughout. its brilliant.

any suggestions as i'm finishing up room with a view?

josh ritter

2011-02-26T18:50:00.000-08:00

is the bomb. seriously. he tore apart the filmore last night. it was brilliant. i've listened to him before and enjoyed his story telling and lyrical style but now i'm sold. he's my favorite. the show itself was so much fun and very full of energy. everyone on stage and in the crowd was obviously sold on the work of this man. afterwards we waited to meet him and he was incredibly genuine and kind to everyone who waited. i am now in complete agreement with jacob that he's the best, most important, singer/songwriter of our generation.

thank you

tastespotting

2011-02-24T15:28:00.000-08:00

i discovered this amazing new site today via my friend sadie. it is a collaboration between food bloggers and the best recipes and pictures are featured on the website. it is now impossible to run out of ideas for things to cook only very possible to not have time to do anything else. i already found an incredible looking pancake recipe. the pictures alone make me drool. yum.

presidio

2011-02-23T14:32:00.000-08:00

i'm disappointed to say that i don't know why these turned out so much better than the previous roll that i took at the same time. these were on the canon and a wide angle lens, which contributed but i think i probably had them on different settings as well and wish i had those on record. i love how the light shines through the trees here in the presidio and i'm glad i captured it on film. i did find a great book today about cameras and film and so i can't wait to start taking notes and improving my technique.

the palace

2011-02-22T15:21:00.001-08:00

i love the lighting in the film pictures here. i made some slight changes on the palace photos and it totally brought out different light and nuances. i especially love the fluffiness of the clouds in the third one.

indian rock

2011-02-21T20:38:00.000-08:00

via localecology.org

jacob and i enjoyed indian rock together on sunday. the bay was spread out before us and the clouds reflected off the bay as they billowed up to huge heights. it was beautiful. I love spending the whole day together and sneaking in a bit of natural beauty, we love the new things we find in berkeley. it was a treat.

blogs

2011-02-20T15:56:00.000-08:00

i took a break from looking at blogs as they were beginning to overwhelm my thoughts, time and creativity. i want to focus on the things that add not detract from my spiritual, and emotional life. i want to at least know where i spend my time and this was a very beneficial fast in that area. though as i reenter the world of blogs in a limited way i can't help but remember my love for ill seen and ill said. her ability to pinpoint thoughts and emotions meets me in a very specific way. i love this post and its recognition of the sometimes uneasy place of finding where you belong and being happy with the choices you've made. while i've found my loved one i often feel uneasy about where we'll end up. this poem sums that up pretty well.

Places, Loved Ones
No, I have never found
The place where I could say
This is my proper ground,
Here I shall stay;
Nor met that special one
Who has an instant claim
On everything I own
Down to my name;

To find such seems to prove
You want no choice in where
To build, or whom to love;
You ask them to bear
You off irrevocably,
So that it's not your fault
Should the down turn dreary,
The girl a dolt.

Yet, having missed them, you're
Bound, none the less, to act
As if what you settled for
Mashed you, in fact;
And wiser to keep away
From thinking you still might trace
Uncalled-for to this day
Your person, your place.

philip larkin

popovers

2011-02-19T20:34:00.000-08:00

this puffed treat and i have had a long and rather gruesome history. it started off with awe. i knew of these bread delights that were served at Neiman Marcus but only saw the restaurant when we walked through the mall and never had one. i just knew they were very difficult to make rise and often thwarted the baker. but when i started working upstairs they were a regular treat. they even had popover pans and so i quickly realized i was going to have to master them. easier said than done. i have mentioned my inability to read recipes sometimes and i used a whole stick of butter instead of 1 tbs one time. those were inedible as they simmered and i couldn't figure out what was different. but i must add that this recipe is hand written and a few different girls have written temperatures and timings and its made the whole thing very complicated. but then, i came across a popover recipe in the Gastronomy of Marriage. A book i read a while ago and was revisiting now that i'm married. the recipe was simple and clear and added a tip about refrigerating the dough before baking. it worked brilliantly. try it, i think you'll be impressed with yourself.

film favorites

2011-02-16T16:26:00.000-08:00

i think its obvious that i am still only good at one thing. anenomes, they love me. the other two are the best of a series that ran from overexposed, to blurrier. my goal this week is to read through my amateur photographer book and try to get a better grasp on shutter speed as corresponding to light and which direction, etc. i'm also going to notate my pictures so i know which photo was taken on what setting. thanks for being my sounding board.

valentine's love

2011-02-15T13:55:00.000-08:00

it was our first valentine's day in the same place so we decided to do it out right. while our original plan included a ferry and a tandem bicycle, jacob's impressive idea not mine. the rain caused us to take a different route, public transit.

still, i can't imagine the evening being more beautiful or romantic. we ate at poggio's where we had the wedding reception. it was fun to go back and try their real dinner menu. the service was awesome and everything provided new taste sensations. eating good food together is one of our favorite things. not to mention being served pretty much a whole cow,

much to jacob's chagrin we took some home.

he understood once we got dessert.

i hope everyone's valentine's was as filled with love and laughs.

valentines pancakes

2011-02-14T13:31:00.000-08:00

i have wanted to make puff pancakes for a romantic brunch for some time. i found a recipe from the book in the kitchen with a good appetite, it was easy and i made it for dinner. it was very delicious and puffed brilliantly. but with the pressure of valentine's day and the fact that it was the second time i was going to perform this feat, (typically if i make a great recipe, it surprises me the first time and the second time it flops. i think my nerves make me more precise the first time and then for the second i'm not as careful ) it crumpled. but the fact that i am still sharing it with you today, should tell you something about how light, fluffy and carmelized they were the first time. we still enjoyed them but i think that it probably has more to do with the fact that its our first valentines day together than the pancakes themselves.

open mic

2011-02-12T19:57:00.001-08:00

this has been a very musical week. not only has he been promoting his music on noise trade, as i posted before, he also performed at an open mic at bazaar cafe. he blew it away. they want him to come back for a gig and the other musicians were wonderful. entertaining and encouraging. we had a blast.

lines

2011-02-10T00:18:00.001-08:00

while these will only show up sideways for some reason, i still really love the lines in them. jacob took these and i love how his eye for photos is so different from mine, he takes the big picture and organizes it a little bit into obvious sections and form. i like that.

the only road

2011-02-08T10:31:00.000-08:00

jacob put his album on noise trade last night and i wanted yall to have a chance to listen and download from my blog. check out his widget to the right. its free, its lovely to listen too and you can share it on any medium you like. enjoy!

carissa

2011-02-07T21:22:00.000-08:00

i do like this photo i took of my sister when she visited last week. she's beautiful and obviously photogenic, so it would have been hard to mess this one up but i'm taking credit anyway. its amazing to me that while we are ten years apart we still take each other's clothes, her more then me for the record, she often gets taken for the older sister, or atleast only a couple of years apart, and that we have so many similar interests. our love of books is one of the biggest and i'm glad she enjoyed the readers cafe. thanks for posing for me!

sophie

2011-02-07T11:29:00.000-08:00

"sophie and her smoking accordion" as indicated on her sign, played her accordion in front of the ferry building to "pay back student loans". i loved her carefree nature and her group of friends dancing and how she couldn't stop smiling. i had my camera and was in the mood to take photos but this is one of my biggest dilemmas. do you ask first? should i just be sneaky and fire one off from my waist, or maybe pretend i'm taking one of the clock tower? the last ones are unethical but the first potentially makes her uncomfortable, self conscious, where before she was all dancing and enjoying the music. or she could say no and i'd have to honor that and only have the memory in my head. these questions always bother me when i'm taking portraits of people and when i admire others photos. in this instance she agreed, and seemed to not mind too much, but it was obvious she knew i was taking it and her smile wasn't as wide. not to mention that i have a lot of work to do on my camera skills so as to actually get a moving person in focus. as well as the fact that i can't seem to grasp depth of field focus. the focus does not center on a point but on different planes of field. as you can see i focused on the field behind her, aka the crosswalk sign and road, instead of her, i'd like to think she moved. despite these issues, the blues and reds really strike me and there's potential here, i just have to keep doing it.

entertainment

2011-02-05T22:28:00.000-08:00

i've read quite a few good books lately that i have not updated on.

1. mennonite in a little black dress was very enlightening, funny, sweet and sad. i love her continuing struggle between her family values and her educational values and how she brings them together through many dark days. its beautiful.

2. namesake this is also about a struggle to come to terms with a family that is at odds with the greater part of society. as the parents came from India and a the child is raised in America, the ties are stretched but never broken. the author writes beautiful short stories yet her talent really shines here.

3. garlic and sapphires is another female memoir, this one more professional. Ruth becomes the New York Times food critic and must disguise her identity to adequately do her job, she flounders as she is overcome by the praise, the critiscism, the difficulty of always eating out and coming face to face with who she is as she embodies other characters. she keeps her dignity, humor and grace throughout and records her experiences beautifully.

we've also seen a few movies i wanted to recommend. Never Let Me Go, the Illusionist and the King's Speech. I can't wait to see how everything goes down with the Oscars.

we saw the Illusionist at the Clay theater on Fillmore and took a couple of pictures. Jacob aced the first one and i loved the ornateness of the interior.

blue bottle tour II

2011-02-03T14:56:00.000-08:00

these film photos are in addition to my last synopsis of our blue bottle coffee tour. i tried to capture the cool, yet serious, vibe that emanates from everyone and everything at blue bottle coffee. when i first came out to san francisco 2 1/2 years ago, they were the coffee place i was excited to try. i looked up their website, found them at the farmer's market and dreamed of working there. though that's probably not in my future its awesome to see the heart of the roastery and to enjoy the fruits of their labor.

bits of beauty

2011-02-02T15:18:00.000-08:00

the small things hold the most beauty in these photos.

good times

2011-02-01T10:27:00.001-08:00

its been a big weekend, my family came into town and we've been eating and sightseeing like crazy.

i've been wanting to share a couple of recipes with you though so i'll start there. this no-knead bread is incredible, though i've been using the wrong yeast, active, not instant, its still delicious. and since i had extra yeast i would no longer be needing i decided to use it for this cinnamon roll recipe i've been wanting to try. they were perfect after i froze them for a couple of days i let them thaw and rise overnight so they were very easy and fun for a saturday morning.

yesterday we visited one of my favorite places in the world, point reyes. we explored the lighthouse, looked for whales and i got free range eggs from marin sun farms.

on our 8 month anniversary we enjoyed our kara's cupcakes once again. they even had a heart on them this month. what a wonderful celebration!

new header

2011-01-27T10:06:00.000-08:00

thanks justine for the awesome new header! hopefully my blog will live up to its awesomenesss!

street photographer

2011-01-26T15:18:00.000-08:00

this video has captivated me. Vivian Maier's work is exceptional, yet she never showed them to anyone and many were never even developed. why did she take the pictures she did?  what would her life had been like if she lived in our age of digital cameras and blogs? i'm very intrigued about how we process and show ourselves through the internet. we are so open, myself included, with our thoughts and feelings and dreams and pictures, but only a few years ago that kind of transparency was not even possible much less acted upon. i identify with her in part because she lived and worked with a family that wasn't her own. now we'll never know her motives or how she took the haunting images of street life in chicago. but i like to think that her camera was her connection to the people she photographed. that while she lived alone her camera gave her access and helped her have a place in her community.

oakland adventures

2011-01-24T10:59:00.000-08:00

chopbar might be our new favorite restaurant. it was delicious. we so enjoyed celebrating with our friends. it was a wonderful weekend.

The Palace of Fine Arts Unveiled

2011-01-22T12:11:00.000-08:00

they've finally finished remodeling and the palace of fine arts looks better than ever. its one of my favorite parts of living here. it was built for the worlds fair in 1915 but has experienced many changes since then. it marked the entrance to the first american exhibition of the famous european impressionist paintings. we are privileged to live so close and see it every day. we love wandering around the newly opened grounds.this was an interesting medium for film because there were lots of bright spots as well as shadow. there's so much to learn.

La Marzoco

2011-01-22T11:58:00.000-08:00

La Marzoco espresso machines are amazing, the pinnacle of espresso machines in cafes, if a cafe has one its normally a sign of greatness. they put on a geek fest of coffee accouterments this week including pretty much every stellar roaster/cafe in the bay area and every way of brewing coffee possible, including a bike powered espresso machine. i pulled shots for HI-Q coffee and got way too caffeinated, it was a dream. i think i might have talked a bit too much but i really enjoyed connecting with people who share the same passions and drive.

we also ate lunch at Gather, which was in the same building as the conference. perfection in a pizza, its true, crispy and chewy, eggs, bacon and carmelized onion. it was brilliant and i throughly enjoyed the whole experience.

blue bottle coffee

2011-01-20T11:13:00.000-08:00

as monday was mlk day, reader's cafe was closed so we went on a field trip , blue bottle coffee gave us a tour of their facilities and conducted a cupping with our crew. it was wonderful. the roastery is so full of light and space, its beautifully designed in oakland's warehouse district. i loved trying the different coffees they offer since we only sell one espresso and one house. maybe we'll branch out now that we've tried some of the other amazing options. this kicked off what i am now referring to as "coffee week". more updates to come.

film favorites

2011-01-17T12:23:00.000-08:00

these are some of my favorites from the last roll, while i opened the camera too early, hence the light leak, i really love the lighting and angles and feel like i'm learning alot about seeing and more about how the camera sees what i see, the surprise aspect is nerve racking and the best part. i think the last one is my favorite, i want to go back and experiment with different lenses and shutter speeds. the exploratorium is awesome.

pork chops with butternut squash, escarole and walnuts

2011-01-14T00:16:00.000-08:00

this is my new favorite recipe. it has pork chops which jacob loves, butternut squash which is my favorite and a bit of crunchiness with the walnuts. i was a bit concerned with the escarole but its bitterness is perfectly complemented by the other flavors, i'm betting you could use spinach as well. the one skillet plan makes it very easy, but i made some couscous as well for a little extra heft. thank you sunset magazine!

readers cafe

2011-01-12T20:25:00.000-08:00

honestly readers cafe might be my favorite job so far. i mean how could it not be. books, blue bottle coffee and great coworkers. not to mention awesome lighting to experiment with my film camera. its an amazing combination.

sunday farmers market

2011-01-11T20:09:00.000-08:00

the fort mason farmer's market

i love my standby produce this winter, butternut squash, not to mention learning about new fruits and the beauty of organic garlic, while the last photo could use some improvement, i love our double reflection and jacob's hat. i made this salad with sprouts from the farmer's market, it was delicious. what a wonderful sunday.

wintertime

2011-01-11T15:43:00.000-08:00

the colors in this photo are perfect. it epitomizes winter in sf for me. i took this on our way home from the airport and while the mixture of bart, muni and then marin transit were grueling, this photo was worth it. i can feel the crispness in the air.

lovely light

2011-01-09T22:15:00.000-08:00

i love the light in these photos. i live in the most beautiful place in the world and want to capture it as much as possible. this was in the evening as the sun set and everything glowed.

resolutions in action

2011-01-08T00:35:00.000-08:00

though we didn't really make resolutions this year i declared that we would clean out the parts of our apartment that people don't see when they come to parties, which is when we normally clean. therefore today we tackled two drawers, our pantry, a towel cabinet that now has no towels in it and duh duh duh the closet. it was daunting to be sure but necessary. and we are a cleaning team when we get going. i don't have before pictures because i'm embarrassed, just know it was bad. i mean how can someone with 20+ pair of shoes think she's a minimalist? apparently that is what the floor and back corners of the closet are for, to help me live in denial. so atleast i have now confronted these issues, thrown some things out and been reunited with others that i forgot i owned. we celebrated with burritos and a movie. the fighter is amazing.

my father's kitchen

2011-01-05T22:45:00.000-08:00

after running errands on tuesday jacob and i tried a vietnamese place i've been wanting to try for awhile. we had their pho, but the best part was the vietnamese ice coffee that is made with blue bottle. it has a special drip filter and sweetened condensed milk is the main ingredient. amazing. the best part is that its run by a father daughter team, i love restaurants with history.

unfortunately i only thought i had my camera with me. i'll get better at this hopefully.

christmas

2011-01-04T20:16:00.000-08:00

my first roll...

the colors are so rich in these film pictures, i am very pleased with my results so far but there is so much i need to learn. the bottom one encapsulates reason number 152,000 why i love that man. you'll probably be seeing him alot in these photos.

snap away

2011-01-03T20:39:00.000-08:00

since last year at this time my camera and computer stopped talking there has been a dismal lack of pictures but i am back in business baby. with a digital camera and two film cameras you are probably going to be sick at the amount of pictures i put up. but hopefully not. here goes.

i can't wait to get this year started. i am taking a photography class that starts in a couple of weeks and we have a lot to look forward to. but i'm also trying to be content and relax in this time that's a bit slower, aka january the month i hate. i'm learning again that not every month or minute must be full to the brim of excitement and adventure. sometimes i'm supposed to wait and rest and i realized that the past six months, have been one of the first times that i've not wanted to be somewhere else or doing something else. i've really enjoyed my job, where i've lived and overall what i've been doing. its kinda caught me by surprise and i like it. knowing me it won't last long, but i like being content and hopefully i'll take that attitude with me whatever i end up doing next.

happy new year!

2010-12-31T14:11:00.000-08:00

we're going to be pretty low key this year but i can't wait to have my first new year's kiss. 2010 has been a big year with my graduation and a wedding and a big new beginning together here in San Francisco. there is alot to celebrate.

first christmas

2010-12-14T14:48:00.000-08:00

well the holidays are in full swing around here. we've had a christmas party with a bunch of our friends from around the bay. it was so good to have so many people we love in one place. i made this incredible dip. i doubled the recipe, but i could have quadrupled it i think and still wouldn't have had any left. Today we went ice skating on the Embarcadero, we've made a few holiday hot drinks, and started our christmas shopping. i'm not sure how much i'll be posting after we leave thursday so i might just plan on starting again in the new year. but i'll leave you with these two christmas mixes. they are filled with songs both old and new, that have put me fully in the spirit. we can't wait to share that with our families over the next two weeks!